Anthony Akumu has opened up about the financial rewards of his time at Kaizer Chiefs, revealing that his two-year stint at Naturena was the most lucrative move of his professional career.
The Kenyan midfielder arrived at Amakhosi with expectations on his shoulders but ultimately struggled to establish himself as a key figure in the team.
Akumu made 34 league appearances for Chiefs and scored just twice during his spell at the club. His limited impact saw him become regarded as one of the club’s less successful foreign signings.
However, while his performances may not have lived up to expectations, the move proved extremely rewarding financially.
Akumu reveals Kaizer Chiefs salary
Akumu says Chiefs initially offered him a monthly salary of Ksh1.5 million, which was worth roughly R192,000 at the time.
The midfielder explained that the offer was simply too attractive to turn down, particularly after his contract at Zesco United in Zambia was approaching its end.
“Playing in South Africa still remains my most lucrative offer because they started with a monthly salary of Ksh1.5 million,” Akumu said, as reported by KickOff.
He revealed that Zesco attempted to convince him to stay by increasing his salary to Ksh500,000 per month, but the Zambian club could not compete with Chiefs’ offer.
“When Zesco got wind of my intention to move, they offered me Ksh500,000 per month, but they still could not match what the South African club were offering, and so I had to leave,” he added.
How much did Akumu earn at Chiefs?
Akumu also disclosed that he received an annual payment of Ksh8 million — approximately R1 million based on the reported conversion at the time.
The amount was reportedly split into two payments, with one instalment arriving in February and the other in September.
“Every year, I received Ksh8 million, half of which was paid in February and the other half in September,” Akumu explained.
His time at Naturena ultimately came to an early end, with the player and club agreeing to part ways in 2022, before the full duration of his contract had been completed.
Akumu’s Chiefs legacy
Akumu’s financial success at Chiefs stands in stark contrast to his impact on the pitch.
Despite arriving with experience from East African and Zambian football, he struggled to become a consistent starter and left the club without making the kind of impression expected from a foreign signing.
He was not the only overseas player to face difficulties at Chiefs, with other recruits including Jasond Gonzalez and Christian Saile also enduring challenging spells.
Akumu’s latest comments, however, offer a different perspective on his Chiefs chapter: although the move did not produce the expected results competitively, it remains the most financially rewarding deal of his career.
The question for Chiefs supporters is simple — just how disappointing was Akumu’s spell at Naturena?
